One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Total Solar Eclipse: Southern California Gets A Partial Show
A partial solar eclipse.
(
solarseven via Shutterstock
)
People across Southern California were able to get a partial view of the total solar eclipse gracing the sky above North America on Monday.
While people within the narrow track stretching from Texas to Maine got to witness the eclipse in its totality, Southern California was still able to see roughly half the sun blocked out by the intercepting moon.
What to expect
The event was expected to give the appearance of a “Pacman-like chunk taken out of the sun,” says Noah Pietro, a NASA project scientist. “You will notice the light dimming and the light looking very odd in the middle of the day.”
In the greater L.A. region, NASA says the moon will begin to move into the sun’s path at 10:06 a.m. The partial eclipse by the moon will start at 11 a.m., with the peak being at 11:12 a.m. The event will be completely over by 12:22 p.m.
How to watch safely
Your everyday shades won’t be enough to protect your eyes. Aside from the traditional telescope or set of binoculars, you’ll need a set of eclipse glasses to safely view this celestial event.
Sponsored message
“These should have markings on them that say ‘12312-2 certified,’” Pietro said.
People attend the solar eclipse watch party at the California Institute of Technology.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
LAist
)
If you don’t have a pair, there’s other indirect ways to watch, which could call for getting the kids involved.
You can punch a hole through either a piece of paper or index card, turn your back to the sun, and watch the projected image through the hole (do not look directly into it).
Another way to watch the eclipse unfold is holding a colander over the ground. As the eclipse occurs, little crescent shaped suns will appear on the ground.
A colander can be used to safely view a total solar eclipse.
(
Associated Press
)
Looking ahead to future eclipses
Another one won’t be visible in the United States for another 20 years.
Sponsored message
“It can feel a long way, but fortunately on Earth there are eclipses that happen if you’re willing to travel and there are opportunities over the next several years to travel and see these eclipses,” Pietro said.
The next total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and part of Portugal in 2026.
And if you're hoping to experience a total eclipse in L.A. someday there's bad news. According to NASA records, the most recent total eclipse here was in 1724 and another isn't forecast through the year 3000.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
